House bill offers truckers long sought exemption and relief from ELD mandate

Truck drivers are in the midst of 2 of the most heated and pivotal battles of all time-
The ELD mandate and the Federal Authority trucker wage provision.

1) The ELD mandate which enforces the Hours of Service rule and its much detested 14 hour clock. The Electronic logging device rule forces truckers to install digital devices in their semi-tractors to track their driving time, ensuring they drive no more than 11 hours a day within a 14-hour workday. Drivers must then be off duty for 10 consecutive hours.
There is a problem however. SAFETY. When you pay a driver by the mile, then govern them by a clock, and then have them wait at loading docks for hours and hours without pay, you create unsafe situations.
Read more The Evolution of the Driver Shortage, Trucker Wages, and Safety

Though the above mentioned attacks on truckers are different, the passion behind both issues have grown stronger in the last 2 years. The most common phrase is “Enough is Enough”

The ELD mandateThe electronic logging device (ELD) rule was congressionally mandated as a part of MAP-21. Compliance deadline was Dec. 18, 2017 while enforcement of the mandate took effect on April 1, 2018.

An electronic logging device is used to electronically record a driver’s Record of Duty Status (RODS), which replaces the paper logbook some drivers currently use to record their compliance with Hours of Service (HOS) requirements

Interstate truck drivers around the country have been protesting the new regulation for many months citing concerns of safety, additional cost, adding to the already intense truck parking shortage, unreliability of the new technology(self certification), and driver privacy concerns.

A bill, The Small Carrier Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act of 2018, was filed May 23rd in the U.S. House that would, if passed, would exempt trucking companies with 10 trucks or fewer from compliance with the U.S. DOT’s electronic logging device mandate permanently.
Although many exemptions have been filed regarding the ELD mandate, this is the first attempt in Congress, specifically exempting small carriers and independent owner-operators from the ELD mandate.

H.R. 5948 is bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Collin Peterson (D-Minnesota) and Greg Gianforte (R-Montana). Together they have have introduced two pieces of bipartisan legislation to relieve certain sectors of the trucking industry from the Federal Motor Carrier Association’s electronic logging device (ELD) mandate.

“Electronic logging devices are another layer of unnecessary red tape that continues to tie up truckers and puts livestock and Montana livelihoods at risk,” Gianforte said

“This legislation will eliminate costly and time-consuming regulations for small trucking companies and individual owner-operators, who constitute much of the rural trucking industry.” Peterson said.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association in November petitioned FMCSA to allow small business truckers — those with less than $27 million a year in revenue, as defined by the Small Business Administration — with strong safety records to continue to run on paper logs for five years beyond the December 2017 compliance deadline. FMCSA has not yet issued a decision on OOIDA’s waiver.OOIDA also appears to be in support of the bill.

The Small Carrier Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act of 2018 will completely exempt businesses which operate ten or fewer trucks from the requirements of the ELD mandate, and the Agricultural Business Electronic Logging Device Exemption Act of 2018 will completely exempt agricultural businesses.

Information regarding the ELD mandate can be found at TruckerNation.org
TruckerNation.org is a website founded by singer-song writer and trucker advocate Tony Justice.Trucker Nation MISSION STATEMENT
TruckerNation.org is a one stop shop where truckers can become better educated, engaged and efficient in understanding relevant industry matters no matter age, race, gender, ethnicity, or affiliation.

By: Allen Smith

Allen Smith is a 37 year veteran who started at an early age in a household goods family moving business. He began driving straight trucks in 1977 and moved to the big rigs in 1982.
His experience within the industry includes; owner operator, company driver, operations manager, and owner of a long distance HHG moving business, taking many of the long haul moves himself when needed.
Allen Smith, a truck driver advocate who is driven by the desire to help others succeed within an industry where injustice, unrewarded sacrifice, and lack of respect and recognition exists.
Allen and his wife Donna are hosts of Truth About Trucking ”Live” on Blog Talk Radio. Other websites include AskTheTrucker, TruckingSocialMedia, NorthAmericanTruckingALerts, TruthAboutTrucking, and many Social Media websites.
In 2011 Allen and Donna hosted the first Truck Driver Social Media Convention, designed to create unity and solutions for the trucking industry. This is now being extended through the North American Trucking Alerts network as those within the industry join forces for the betterment of the industry.
Allen strongly supports other industry advocates who are also stepping up to the plate to help those who share honesty, guidance and direction. He believes that all those involved in trucking need to be accountable for their part within the industry, including drivers, carriers, brokers, shippers, receivers, etc…
The list of supporters and likeminded people grow daily, networking together and sharing thoughts and ideas for the betterment of trucking. He has coined the popular phrase "Raising the standards of the trucking industry"